Nogales’ Andrew Carrazco (20) charges through Azusa’s defense during the first half of a prep football game at Citrus College in Glendora, Calif. on Friday, Nov. 3, 2017. (Correspondent photo by Trevor Stamp)

Saturday Morning Quarterback will appear weekly and offer a look back on the Friday night that was while trying to make sense of the madness that is high school football.

OPENING POSSESSION

Two of the top private school football programs in the area came into the final night of the regular season with a chance to not only win league championships, but prove they could play elite football.

When the final whistle blew to end the regular season, both programs came up short. Let’s take a brief examination.

In the San Fernando Valley, Chaminade had little trouble dispatching visiting Bishop Amat, 57-33, to win the Mission League title. The Eagles looked like a team focused to win a league title and played like a team that will be practicing on Thanksgiving Day (the weekend of the semifinals).

Lancers defensive coordinator Mike DiFiori simply had no answers to what Chaminade was doing offensively. The Lancers were forced out of their cover-2 scheme when the Eagles’ running game was coming alive. When the Lancers dropped an extra man “in the box” to stop their running game, Chaminade coach Ed Corson used his play-action passing game to perfection.

Chaminade will likely get the fourth seed in Division 1, a reward that is well deserved. It’s anyone’s guess who Bishop Amat will get in the first round, but the speculation is that it could be either St. John Bosco or San Clemente.

The Angelus League championship game between Cathedral and St. Francis figured to be a hotly contested affair, and it was. In the end, the Cathedral defense rose to the occasion to help lead the Phantoms to a 9-1 record and become a legitimate contender to win the Division 2 championship.

Don’t be too hard on the Golden Knights. Their defense played excellent, holding Cathedral to one touchdown in the first half while playing hard. They will most likely not find a team as athletic as Cathedral until the semifinals in Division 3. It will be interesting to see what seed they will get from the playoff committee when the playoff pairings are released Sunday.

AUDIBLES

Several teams are still trying to figure out playoff scenarios. Let’s take a look at some of the divisions.

• Division 4: Coming into its game against Etiwanda, Damien’s chances of making the playoffs were excellent. And while its dramatic 34-28 win over the Eagles forced a three-way tie for third place in the Baseline League, the final result of the coin flip indicated that Etiwanda will be the third-place team. The Spartans could also qualify as an at-large entry.

• Division 6: One of the intricacies of the playoff divisions is that the higher the division, the lower the playoff qualification threshold. St. Paul is a perfect example. Despite a 3-7 record, the Swordsmen will most likely end up getting the final playoff berth, along with Canyon Country Canyon, because Oxnard had to vacate its wins Saturday due to using an ineligible player.

• Division 9: It is too complicated to know whether there will be one or two “at-large” positions available. Esperanza’s loss to Brea Olinda opened up one precious spot, and another could open based on the coin flip to decide third place in the Mountain Pass League. Maranatha, Muir, Aliso Niguel, West Ranch and Chaffey will all vie for those playoff spots.

• Division 10: When the week began, there were 10 second-place teams, making Whittier’s chances of making the playoffs as a third-place team tough. For Cardinals fans, enough teams lost Friday night and it looks as if there are enough playoff spots available for Whittier to make the tournament.

• Division 11: There was no bigger win than Arcadia’s 22-16 win over Crescenta Valley on Thursday night. The win almost assures the Apaches are in as the second-place team from the Pacific League, and they could also be a high seed in the division. Arcadia was ranked third in the final CIF-SS coaches poll for this division.

• Division 12: Rosemead clinched third place in the Mission Valley League and will be one of eight teams vying for two open playoff spots. In one of the more unusual occurrences that you will ever see, La Sierra is tied for first-place in the River Valley League standings, with four other teams.

EXTRA POINTS

• Look for Charter Oak (D-3), South Hills (D-7) and Schurr (D-12) to receive top seeds when the playoff pairings are announced Sunday. Arroyo (D-11) figures to be seeded second. Covina (D-12) will most likely be seeded fourth. La Habra (D-2) figures to be seeded fifth and Nogales (D-13) is projected to being a third seed.

• If Covina, South Hills and Northview all get “home” games next week, Northview could be left with a venue issue. South Hills has first preference on when it can use Covina District Field and it will likely want to play Friday. Covina has second preference and look for it to play on Thursday. Northview would most likely have to play at a different venue on Friday or play on Saturday evening at the District Field.

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